Official name	City of Niš
Other name	Град Ниш/ Grad Niš
Settlement type	City
Nickname	The Emperor's city
Image shield	Nis_Coat_of_Arms.png
Pushpin map	Serbia
Coordinates region	RS
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Serbia
Subdivision type1	District
Subdivision name1	Nišava
Subdivision type2	Municipalities
Subdivision name2	5
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Miloš Simonović (DS)
Leader title1	Ruling parties
Leader name1	DS/G17+/SPS
Area total km2	597
Population as of	2002
Population total	255,180
Population density km2	420
Population urban	231,590
Timezone	CET
Utc offset	+1
Timezone dst	CEST
Utc offset dst	+2
Elevation m	195
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	18000
Area code	(+381) 18
Website	www.ni.rs
Blank name	Car plates
Blank info	NI

Niš (Serbian Cyrillic: Ниш, ) is the largest city in southern Serbia and the third-largest city in the country (after Belgrade and Novi Sad). According to the data from May 2009, Niš has 253,077 inhabitants. The city covers an area of about 597 square kilometres, including the urban area, the Niška Banja spa and 68 suburbs. Niš is the administrative center of the Nišava District.

It is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, and has from ancient times been considered a gateway between the East and the West. The Paleo-Balkan Thracians were formed in the Iron Age, of which the Triballians dwelled in this region with a Celtic invasion in 279 BC that resulted in the forming of the Scordisci tribe. Naissus was among the cities taken in the Roman conquest in 75 BC. The Romans built the Via Militaris in the 1st century, with Naissus being one of the key towns. Niš is also notable as the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, as well as two other Roman emperors, Constantius III and Justin I. It is home to one of Serbia's oldest Christian churches dating to the 4th century in the suburb of Mediana.

There are about 30,000 university students at the University of Niš, which comprises 13 faculties. Niš is also one of the most important industrial centres in Serbia, a center of electronics industry (see Elektronska Industrija Niš), industry of mechanical engineering, textile industry and tobacco industry. Niš Constantine the Great Airport is its international airport. In 2013 the city will host the Ecumenical Assembly of Christian Churches, in honour to 1700 years of Constantine´s Edict of Milan.

Geography

Niš is situated at the 43°19' latitude north and 21°54' longitude east in the Nišava Valley, near the spot where it joins the Južna Morava River. It is in Niš that the trunk road running from the north down the Morava River valley forks into two major lines: southern, leading to Thessalonica and Athens, and eastern leading towards Sofia and Istanbul. The central city area is at 194m altitude above sea level (the Main City Square). The highest point in the city area is Sokolov kamen (Falcon's rock) on Suva Planina Mountain (1523m) while the lowest spot is at Trupale, near the mouth of the Nišava (173m). The city covers 596.71 km².

Climate

The climate of the Niš area is moderate continental, with an average temperature of 11.2°C. July is the warmest month of the year, with the average of 21.2°C. The coldest month is January, averaging at 0.2°C. The average of the annual rainfall is 567.25 mm/m². The average barometer value is 992.74 mb. There are 123 days with rain and 43 days with snow. On the average, the wind force is just below 3 Beaufort.

History

Etymology

The city's early name under the Roman Empire remained Naissus, which is the Latin name derived from its original name Naissos.

The etymology of the original name Naissos ("city of the nymphs") was derived from a mythical creature of Greek mythology - Naiad (from the Greek νάειν, "to flow," and νἃμα, "running water") which was the nymph of freshwater streams rivers and lakes. Niš is a possible location of Nysa, a mythical place in Greek mythology where the young god Dionysus was raised.

Navissos was the name during the Scordisci Celtic settlement in the 3rd century BC.

Prehistoric and ancient times

Archaeological evidence shows neolithic settlements in the city and area dating from 5,000 to 2,000 BCE, notable archeological site is Humska Čuka.

The ethnogenesis of the Thracians started in the Iron Age, the Triballian tribe dwelled in this region.

The Scordisci tribe was formed after the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC.

Roman times

At the time of the conquest of the Balkans by Rome in 168-75 BC, Naissos was used as a base for operations. Naissus was first mentioned in Roman documents near the beginning of 2nd century CE, and was considered a place worthy of note in the Geography of Ptolemy of Alexandria.

The Romans occupied the town in the period of the "Dardanian War" (75-73 BC), and set up a legionary camp. The city (called refugia and vici in pre-Roman relation), because of its strategic position (Thracians were based to the south

The Romans built the Via Militaris in the early 1st century, with Naissus being one of the key towns. Five roads met at Naissus, from Lissus, Serdica, Singidunum, Ratiaria and Thessalonica (through Scupi).

Cohort I Aurelia Dardanorum was based in the city.

A fabricae that produced ingots (Gold bars) was active in Naissus at the time of Theodosius I (378-395) as findings with the marking of NAISI at the order of the Emperor have been found in Romania, dating to 379.

The remains of the 4th century Imperial villa at Mediana are an important archaeological site located close to Niš. Mosaic floors and other traces of luxury are preserved in the archaeological museum on the site. Other aristocratic suburban villas are clustered nearby. Here in Mediana, in 364 a.d. emperors Valentinian and Valens divided the Roman empire and ruled as co-emperors.

In the castle, or palace, of Mediana, only three miles from Naissus, they executed the solemn and final division of the Roman empire. Valentinian bestowed on his brother the rich praefecture of the East, from the Lower Danube to the confines of Persia; whilst he reserved for his immediate government the warlike praefectures of Illyricum, Italy, and Gaul, from the extremity of Greece to the Caledonian rampart, and from the rampart of Caledonia to the foot of Mount Atlas. (Edward Gibbon, "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" , Vol. 2,Chapter XXV)

The 4th century Christian basilica in Niš is one of the oldest Christian monuments. The Roman Emperor Constantius III (421) who was the power behind the throne during much of the 410's was born in Naissus.

Though the emperor Julian strengthened the walls, the very prosperity of Naissus made it a target and it was destroyed by Attila in 443. Attila the Hun conquered Naissus with battering rams and rolling towers—military sophistication that was new in the Hun repertory. After the Huns captured the city of Naissus they the inhabitants of the city. Years later, river banks outside the city were still covered with human bones as a reminder of the devastation the Huns had inflicted. The founder of the Justinian Dynasty, Justin I, was born in Naissus in 450, and his nephew Justinian I did his best to restore the city, but Naissus never recovered its 4th century urbanity. The Roman fort at Balajnac with a well-preserved cistern produced coins to Justinian I.

Middle Ages

The latter half of the 6th century CE saw the first major migrations of Slavs and Avars. During the 6th and 7th century CE, Slavic tribes made eight attempts to take Niš. In 551, the Slavs crossed Niš initially headed for Thessalonica, but ended up in Dalmatia. During the final attack in 615 CE the invaders took the city, and most of the Roman and Romanized Daco-Thracian population fled, perished, or became assimilated into the local Serb and Vlach populations.

In the 9th century, the Bulgarians became masters of Naissus, followed by the Hungarians in the 11th century, during which the town's militia fought a successful battle against the People's Crusade on 3 July 1096. The Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus reconquered it once more in 1173, and towards the end of the 12th century the town was in the hands of the Serbian prince Stephen Nemanja, who received hospitably the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his crusaders.

In 1375, the Ottoman Turks captured Naissus for the first time from the Serbians. After a 25-day long siege, the city fell to the Turks. The fall of the Serbian state decided the fate of Niš as well. After the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, even though Serbia existed much weakened as a semi-independent state for another 70 years, the Constantinople-Vienna road grew deserted.

In 1443, Niš fell into the hands of Ludanjin. The town itself was given back to the Serbs, while Branković gave it over to Đorđe Mrnjavčević. In the so-called Long Campaign, Christian armies, led by the Hungarian military leader Janos Hunyadi (known as Sibinjanin Janko in Serbian folk poetry) together with Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković, defeated the Turks and repelled them to Sofia. An important battle was fought near Niš, which remained a free city for a whole year after that. It was during this battle that an Ottoman commander named Gjerg Kastrioti, aka Skanderbeg, deserted the Ottoman ranks with a strong following. Escaping to Albania, he mounted a semi-successful guerilla war against the Ottomans that lasted his remaining lifetime.

Early Modern and Modern periods

]] Niš succumbed to Turkish rule again in 1448 and remained thus for the following 245 years. In the period of Turkish rule, Niš was one of the seats of Turkish military and civil administration. Niš Fortress, built in that period, still represents one of the most beautiful and best preserved edifices in the Balkans. The extant fortification is of Turkish origin, dating from the first decades of the 18th century (1719–1723). It is well-known as one of the most significant and best preserved monuments of this kind in the Mid-Balkans. The Fortress was erected on the site of earlier fortifications - the ancient Roman, Byzantine, and later yet Medieval forts. The Fortress has a polygonal ground plan, eight bastion terraces and four massive gates. It stretches over 22 ha of land. The rampart walls are 2,100 m long, 8 m high and 3 m thick on the average. The building stone, brought from the nearby quarries, was hewn into rather evenly-shaped blocks. The inside of the rampart wall was additionally fortified by a wooden construction, 'santrač', and an additional bulwark, 'trpanac'. On the outside, the Fortress was surrounded by a wide moat, whose northern part has been preserved to our days. Beside the massive stone rampart walls, the southern Stambol gate and the western Belgrade gate are pretty well preserved. Partly preserved are the water gates, while the northern Vidin gate and the south-east Jagodina gate are preserved only in remains. With a complete reconstruction of all the gates, Niš Fortress would once again become, architecturally and functionally, a closed fortification system. In 1737, Niš was seized by the Austrian army, in their campaign against the Turks. The war ended in 1739.

At the beginning of the 19th century the crucial thing for the renewal of the Serbian state was the liberation of Niš from the Turks. The Serbian leader Karađorđe, in his talks with the representatives of Russia, as well as in his talks with Napoleon and the Turks, pointed out that Niš had to belong to Serbia. The Serbian insurrection army headed towards Niš in order to take it and go ahead towards Old Serbia and Kosovo. Karađorđe's suggestion was to use the whole army to liberate Niš, while the rest of the commanders demanded to attack Niš from four different points. The latter was accepted. On April 27, 1809, the Serbian insurrection army with its 16,000 soldiers approached the villages of Kamenica, Gornji and Donji Matejevac, near the town of Niš with Miloje Petrović as Commander-in-chief. The Serbian soldiers made six trenches. The first and biggest was on Čegar Hill with voivoda Stevan Sinđelić at the head. The second one was in the village Gornji Matejevac (near the newly rebuilt Latin Church) with Petar Dobrnjac as the commander. The third trench was north-east to Kamenica, with voivoda Ilija Barjaktarević. The fourth trench was in Kamenica with Miloje Petrović as the chief commander. The fifth trench was in the mountain above Kamenica and under the control of voivoda Pauljo Matejić, while the sixth one was made in Donji Matejevac. Miloje Petrović's request to attack Niš directly was not accepted. The demand was to wait and to besiege the town.

Meanwhile, the Turkish army was reinforced with 20,000 soldiers from Adrianople, Thessalonica, Vranje and Leskovac. The Turks attacked the trench of Petar Dobrnjac on 30 May The following day, on May 31, 1809, the most prominent trench on Čegar Hill, under the command of Stevan Sinđelić, was attacked. The battle lasted all day. As Milovan Kukić witnessed, "the Turks attacked five times, and the Serbs managed to repulse them five times. Each time their losses were great. Some of the Turks attacked, and some of them went ahead, and thus when they attacked for the sixth time they filled the trenches with their dead so that the alive went over their dead bodies and they began to fight against the Serbs with their rifles, cutting and sticking in their enemies with their sabers and knives. The Serbian soldiers from other trenches cried out to help Stevan. But there was no help," as Milovan Kukić said, "either because they could not help without their cavalry, or because Miloje Petrović did not allow it.

When Stevan Sinđelić saw that the Turks had taken over the trench, he ran to the powder cave, took out his gun and fired at the powder magazine. The explosion was so strong that all the surrounding was shaken, and the whole trench caught in a cloud of dense smoke. Stevan Sinđelić, who up to that moment had reached everywhere, helping and encouraging everybody, went into the air." Three thousand Serbian soldiers and more than twice as many on the Turkish side were killed on Čegar Hill. An important monument from early 19th century Serbian uprisings against Turkish reign is the Skull Tower (Ćele kula), a tower which incorporates human skulls (those of dead Serbian "rebels") in its construction, a monument likely unique in its design.

building and Memorial Chapel]] The city was incorporated in Serbia as a consequence of the Treaty of San Stefano. Following the rout of the Serbian army by the Austrians, Bulgarians and Germans in World War I, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria entertained the German Kaiser Wilhelm II at Niš in January 1916. The Kaiser was greeted by the following dubious mock-Roman salutation: Ave Imperator, Caesar et Rex. Victor et gloriosus es. Nissa antiqua omnis Orientis populi te salutant redemptorem, ferentem oppressis prosperitatem atque salutem, which translates as: "Hail Emperor, Caesar and King: You are victor and glorious. In ancient Niš all the peoples of the east salute you, bringer of prosperity to the oppressed."

During the time of German occupation in World War II, the first Nazi concentration camp in Yugoslavia was located near Niš. In 1942 an armed revolt led to an escape. The escapees were guerrillas from Josip Broz Tito's movement who was captured by German forces during the Battle of Kozara. This escape is featured in Miomir Stamenković's film Lager Niš, 1987. The city was heavily bombed by the Allies in 1944 along with other cities in Axis Serbia. In 1996, Niš was the first city in Serbia to stand against the government of Slobodan Milošević. A coalition of democratic opposition parties called Zajedno (Together) won the local elections in Niš in 1996. The first democratic mayor of City of Niš was Zoran Živković, who later became the Prime Minister of Serbia in 2003. On May 7, 1999 it was the site of the NATO Cluster bombing of Niš that resulted in many civilian casualties and no military losses. During the local elections held in September 2004, Smiljko Kostic of Nova Srbija won the mayor office. The democratic party provoked referendum to recall Kostic in November 2005. The majority voted against recall. In the local elections held in May 2008, the Democratic Party, G17+ and coalition assembled around the Socialist Party of Serbia won and Milos Simonovic from the Democratic party became elected mayor.

Historical Sites

Skull Tower - A tower made out of Serb skulls decapitated by Turks in 19th Century.

Niš Fortress - Turkish fortress in the city center.

Mediana - Archaeological site, Roman imperial villa.

Tinkers Alley - Example of original architecture from Ottoman period.

Crveni Krst concentration camp - Built by occupying German forces during WWII.

Bubanj - Monument to the fallen Yugoslav WWII fighters.

Roman emperors

Three Roman emperors were born in this city

Constantine I, the great, (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) – ruled 306 to 337

Constantius III, (Flavius Constantius) – ruled 421

Justin I, (Flavius Iustinus) – ruled 518 to 527

Population through history

1900: 24,573

1905: 21,946

1910: 24,949

1921: 28,625

1931: 35,465

1941: 44,800 (estimate)

1948: 49,332 (109,280)*

1953: 58,656 (122,100)*

1961: 81,250 (148,354)*

1971: 127,654 (195,362)*

1981: 161,376 (232,563)*

1991: 173,250 (245,182)*

2002: 173,724 (250,518)*

2008: 182,209 (252,000)

()* - population according to the present-day boundaries of the city

Demographics

According to the last census from 2002, the whole municipal area of the city of Niš (including both, urban and rural parts of municipality) had a population of 250,518, while population of urban Niš was 173,724. It should be noted that territory of urban part of Niš was redefined since 2002, after the formation of new urban municipalities, thus number of 173,724 might not correspond with the current urban area. According to World Gazetteer, the population of the urban part of the city of Niš was 173,861 in 2007. There is still much dispute about the true number of its population, since there are several thousand Kosovo refugees who officially don't live in the city, but are living there with local family members.

{|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" rules="all" width="45%" style="clear:all; margin:3px 0 0em 0em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:85%; empty-cells:show" |colspan="14" align=center style="background:#778899; color:white"|Ethnic Groups in the Municipal Area (2002 Census) |- |- bgcolor="#FFEBCD" !Ethnic group !Population |- bgcolor="#f5f5f5" |Serbs||235,657 |- bgcolor="#fffaf0" |Roma||5,687 |- bgcolor="#f5f5f5" |Montenegrins||846 |- bgcolor="#fffaf0" |Bulgarians||799 |- bgcolor="#fffaf5" |Yugoslavs||664 |- bgcolor="#fffaf5" |Croats||417 |- bgcolor="#f5f5f0" |Others||5,733 |- bgcolor="#dcdcdc" |TOTAL||250,518 |- |colspan="10" align=center style="background:#dcdccc;"|''' |} {|border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" rules="all" width="45%" style="clear:all; margin:3px 0 0em 0em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:85%; empty-cells:show" |colspan="14" align=center style="background:#778899; color:white"|Ethnic Groups in the Urban Area (2002 Census) |- |- bgcolor="#FFEBCD" !Ethnic group !Population |- bgcolor="#f5f5f5" |Serbs||162,380 |- bgcolor="#fffaf0" |Roma||4,461 |- bgcolor="#f5f5f5" |Montenegrins||747 |- bgcolor="#fffaf0" |Bulgarians||679 |- bgcolor="#fffaf5" |Yugoslavs||601 |- bgcolor="#fffaf5" |Croats||379 |- bgcolor="#f5f5f0" |Others||3,872 |- bgcolor="#dcdcdc" |TOTAL||173,724 |- |colspan="10" align=center style="background:#dcdccc;"|''' |}

Economy

The city of Niš is the administrative, industrial, commercial, financial and cultural center of the south-eastern part of Republic of Serbia. The position of Niš is strategically important, located at the intersection of European highway and railway networks connecting Europe with Asia. Niš is easily accessible, having an airport - Niš Constantine the Great Airport and being a point of intersection of numerous railroad and highway lines. It is in Niš that the trunk road running from the north down the Morava River valley forks into two major lines:

the south one, leading to Thessalonica and Athens, along the Vardar River valley,

and the east one, running along the Nisava and the Marica, leading towards Sofia and Istanbul, and further on, towards the Near East.

These roads have been widely known from ancient times, because they represented the beaten tracks along which peoples, goods and armies moved. Known as 'Via Militaris' in Roman and Byzantine periods, or 'Constantinople road' in Middle Ages, these roads still represent major European traffic arteries. Niš thus stands at a point of intersection of the roads connecting Asia Minor to Europe, and the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Nis had always been a relatively developed city in the former Yugoslavia. In 1981 its GDP per capita was 110% of the Yugoslav average.

Industry

Niš is one of the most important industrial centres in Serbia, well-known for its tobacco industry, industry of electronics, construction industry, industry of mechanical engineering, textile industry, colour metal industry, food processing industry, industry of rubber goods.

Tobacco industry

Niš Tobacco Factory - was built and opened in 1930 at the present location at Crveni Krst. Its basic production is that of tobacco, cigarettes, filters, the elements of the tobacco machinery and equipment, adhesives etc. In 1995 a scientific - research institute was built. The Institute selects, produces and protects tobacco, and creates and designs new products. In August 2003, The Philip Morris Corporation purchased the Niš Tobacco Factory (DIN) through the privatization process. Philip Morris' total investment of EUR 580 million makes it the single largest foreign investor in Serbia of the Year 2003.

Construction industry

Gradjevinar, stock company - originated from the construction firm of Niš County called Grapon in 1961. Gradjevinar has built large structural complexes as shopping centres, department buildings, entire campuses, sections of cities which can be found in Niš, Belgrade, East Serbia, Russia, Bulgaria, Israel, Jordan, United Arabic Emirates. The company has built:

* more than 30,000 apartments, of approximately 180,000 square meters,

* clinics, health facilities and hospitals, of approximately 80,000 square metres,

* department stores, malls of approximately 50,000 square metres,

* hotels, tourist sites, banks, schools, theatres, sports facilities of approximately 50,000 square metres,

* various warehouses, factories, farms and cold storage buildings of approximately 150,000 square metres.

Electronics Industry

Electronics Industry - Holding Corporation, stock corporation - originated from the foundation of the Institute for the Production of Radio Sets and Roentgen Machines, "RR Niš", in 1948. The basic production encompasses acoustic equipment, electronic tubes, specific installations, printed plates, electronic machine elements, hydraulics, pneumatics, appliances, air-conditioners, medical equipment, roentgen machines.

Industry of rubber goods

Vulkan, stock company was built and opened in 1937. Its production is large in scope and it comprises various rubber-technical articles with numerous applications in mining and construction industry (transporters and cranes).

Colour metal industry

NISSAL - Stock corporation for aluminum produces tools, metal reproductive materials, metal, wooden and other material constructions, collects and treats for industrial refuse.

Machinery industry

The Pump Factory "Jastrebac" founded in 1910., produces more than 1,000 of different types and sizes of mechanical pumps.

MIN (Machinery Industry of Niš) Holding, stock corporation founded in 1884, produces various machines, various types of equipment: chemical, petrol-chemical, mining, metallurgic, railway-transport, diesel-locomotive, pump, hydro-thermo-nuclear, water and gas treatment. In 1993 MIN got transformed into a holding company of 37 joint-stock units, 24 of which deal with the basic production, 6 of which deal with services, and 7 with specialized business.

Textile Industry

Nitex - Niš Textile Industry produces fabrics, knitted material, continuous embroidery, clothes.. The company was founded 1897. by Niš capitalist Mita Ristić with his sons (Dušan and Dragoljub). In 2006. Nitex - Niš was acquired by the businessman of Montenegrin origin - Đorđije Nicović.

Food processing industry

Žitopek, stock company for the production and trade of bakery goods was established on March 3, 1947 when 14 bakers formally signed a contract by which they were supposed to join their workshops into "Žitopek".

The Brewery of Niš, stock company produces beer and non-alcohol drinks. The brewery was founded 1884. by Jovan Apel.

Tourism

Tourist Sites

Skull Tower (Serbian: Ћеле Кула, Ćele Kula) - A monument to 19th century Serbian rebels. It is situated on Zoran Đinđić Boulevard, on the old Constantinople road leading to Sofia.

Čegar - The place where Battle on Čegar Hill had happened on May 19, 1809.

Concentration camp - One rare saved German Nazis prisoner camps in Europe. It is situated on 12.February Boulevard.

Bubanj - A place where 10 000 civilian hostages from Niš and south Serbia were brutally murdered by German Nazis during World War II. Monument is in the shape of three clenched fists.

Memorial Chapel in the memory of NATO bombing victims - The chapel was built by City government of Niš (lead by DS/SPO, two democratic parties) while monument was built by the State government (lead by conservative SPS/SRS parties) in 1999. They are situated in Sumatovacka street near Nis Fortress.

Niš Fortress - The extant fortification of Turkish origin, dating from the first decades of the 18th century (1719–1723). It is situated in the city center.

The fortress-cafes - They are situated near Stambol gate (main gate of fortress).

Mediana - Archeological site from the late Roman period located on the road leading to Sofia near EI Nis.

Tinkers Alley - An old urban downtown in today Kopitareva Street, built in the first half of 18th century. It was a street full of tinkers but today it is full with cafes and restaurants.

Kalča, City passage and Gorča - Trade centers situated in Milana Obrenovića Street.

Niška Banja - It is a very popular spa in the summer season. It is located at 10 km from city center on the road leading to Sofia, in the bottom of Suva Planina Mountain.

Spa of Topilo

Architecture

Buildings in Niš are constantly being built. Niš is the second largest city after Belgrade for number of high rise's. The Ambassador Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in Niš, but there are also other buildings like TV5 Tower.

Tourist information

Nis Tourist Organization have two tourist information centres available, one in Nis in Vozda Karađorđa 7 street, and the other in Niska Banja whose address is Sinđelićeva 3b.

Administrative divisions

The city of Niš consists of five municipalities: #Medijana #Palilula #Pantelej #Crveni Krst #Niška Banja

The first four municipalities are located in the urban area of Niš, while Niška Banja is a suburban municipality. Before 2002, the city of Niš had only two municipalities, one of them named "Niš" and another named "Niška Banja".

Municipalities of Niš include further neighborhoods: {| border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=3 class="wikitable" |- valign=top style="font-weight:bold" ! Medijana    ! Palilula    ! Pantelej    ! Crveni Krst    ! Niška Banja    |- valign=top | Center | Palilula | Pantelej | Crveni Krst | Niška Banja |- valign=top | Marger | Staro Groblje | Jagodin Mala (partly) | Beograd Mala | nas. Nikola Tesla (broj 6) |- valign=top | Trg Kralja Aleksandra | Crni Put | Durlan | Jagodin Mala (partly) | Jelašnica |- valign=top | Kičevo | Bubanj | Komren (partly) | Komren (mostly) | Sićevo |- valign=top | Čair | Ledena Stena | Čalije | Šljaka | Ostrovica |- valign=top | Bulevar Nemanjica | Suvi Do | Somborska | Medosevac | Prva Kutina |- valign=top | Bulevar Djindjica | Apelovac | Vrežina |   | Radikina Bara |- valign=top | Medijana | Kovanluk |   |   | Prosek |- valign=top | Trošarina | Tutunović Podrum |   |   | Čukljenik |- valign=top | Duvanište | Kalač Brdo |   |   | Donja i gornja Studena |- valign=top | Brzi Brod | 9.Maj |   |   |   |}

Famous or notable citizens

, hunter Kalča and Kalča's dog Čapa]] The people listed below were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Niš, and its surrounding metropolitan area. The people are listed by alphabetical order of the names.

Constantine I, commonly known as Constantine the Great, a Roman Emperor, born 272/3 in Naissus.

Justin I, Byzantine emperor, born c. 450 in Naissus.

Stevan Sinđelić, war leader (vojvoda), died 1809 in the Battle of Čegar

Stevan Sremac (1855–1906), Serbian writer, came to Niš shortly after its liberation from the Turkish rule; wrote about life in old Niš (Ivkova slava, Zona Zamfirova).

Dragiša Cvetković (1893–1969), prime minister of Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 1939 to 1941.

Dušan Radović (1922–1984), journalist and writer.

Predrag Antonijevic, (b. 1959), film director

Branko Miljković (1934–1961), poet.

Šaban Bajramović (1936–2008), internationally acclaimed singer and composer.

Goran Paskaljević, movie director. He was raised by his grandparents in Niš 1949-1963, after the divorce of his parents.

Predrag Miletić, (b. 1952), actor

Kornelije Kovač, rock musician and composer, born in 1942 in Niš.

Tanasije Uznunović, actor, born in 1942 in Niš.

Zoran Živković, handball player and coach, born in 1945 in Niš.

Aki Rahimovski, rock musician, born in Niš in 1954.

Nenad Milosavljević, rock musician, born in 1954 in Niš, Galija frontman.

Dragan Pantelić, former football goalkeeper, president of Radnički Niš.

Biljana Krstić, rock and folk singer and songwriter, born 1959 in Niš

Zoran Živković, politician, born 1960 in Niš, a former Prime Minister of Serbia.

Zoran Ćirić, writer, born 1962 in Niš.

Aleksandar Šoštar,water polo goalkeeper, born January 21, 1964 in Niš

Dragan Stojković, football player, born 1965 in Niš.

Kokan Mladenović, theater director, born 1970 in Niš.

Ivan Miljković, born 1979 in Niš, volleyball player.

Nikola Karabatić, handball player, born in 1984 in Niš.

Nemanja Radulović, violinist, born in 1985 in Niš.

Dejan Petković, football player, started his playing career 1988-1991 at Radnički Niš.

Goran Šepa, rock musician, Kerber frontman.

Lidija Mihajlović, born 1968 in Niš, shooting champion.

Culture

Theatre

Niš is a home of National Theatre in Niš, that was founded as "Sinđelić" Theatre in 1889.

Rock music

Galija and Kerber are considered the most notable rock bands to have originated from Niš. Other notable Niš rock acts include Daltoni, Dobri Isak, Lutajuća Srca, Mama Rock, Hazari, Novembar, Trivalia and others.

Sport

The city of Niš is home to numerous sport clubs including the following:

"Prvi srpski piloti" Aero-Club

"Železničar" Athletics Club

"Čair" Automobile And Motor-Racing Club

"Železničar" Cycling Club

"Radnički" Boxing Club

Niš Bridge Club

"Niš" Gymnastiscs Club

"Student" University Go Club

City Recreation Association

"Niš" Weight-Lifting Club

"Zoran Radosavljević" Sailing Club

"Gusar" Kayak-Canoe Club

"Khi" Karate Club

"Omladinac" Karate Club

"Samuraj" Karate Club

"Čegar" Horse Riding Club

"Alfa" Youth Basketball Club

"Gimnazijalac" Ladies' Youth Basketball Club

Basketball League Of Serbia Region 7 - Niš

"Student" Ladies' University Basketball Club

"Student" University Basketball Club

"Niš-Put" Bowling Club

"Gromig - Puršok" Small-Grounds Football Club

"Ekonomist" Small-Grounds Football Club

"Koska" Small-Grounds Football Club

"Naisus" Small-Grounds Football Club

"Palilula" Small-Grounds Football Club

"Niš" Volleyball Club

"Radnički" Volleyball Club

"Student" Ladies' Volleyball Club

"Albatros" Paragliding Club External link

"Grunf" Paragliding Club

"Niš" Mountaineers' Association

"Železničar" Mountaineers' Association

"Step" Dancing Club

"Niš" Swimming And Water-Polo Club

"Naisa" Handball Club

"Železničar" Handball Club

"Niš" Youth Handball Club

"Niš" Safari Club

"Niš" Skiing Club

Niš Sports Association Of The Disabled

Sports Association "Niški maraton"

"Niš" Table Tennis Club

"Niš" Archery Club - External link

"Niš 1881" Shooting Club

"Ramin-Niš" Taekwondo Club

"Gimnazijalac" Tennis Club

"Kostić" Tennis Club

"Radnički" Tennis Club

"Niš" Triathlon Club

Fishing Sports Association

"Železničar" Football Club

"Mašinac" Ladies' Football Club

"Niš" Youth Football Club

"Palilulac" Football Club

Radnički Football Club

"Železničar" Judo Club

"Kinezis" Judo Club

"92" Judo club

"Niš" Judo Club

"Niš" Chess Club

"Swing" Dance club

"Cekica" Rugby League Club

"Naissus" Archery Club

Fitness centar 2M

"Niš" Kudo Club

"Junior" Youth Basketball Club

Local media

{| cellpadding="10" |- valign="top" | Internet Media

Južne vesti (South news) Internet novine/Internet daily

Radio Stations

Baltazar radio (90.5)

Banker radio(98.3) City radio (104.9) - LIVE(AAC+) Radio 5(105.5) Radio Nišava(104.0)) Radio Belle Amie(95.6)

Radio Belle Amie Folk Kanal (98.7/100.7)

Radio Seven (88.8)

|| TV Stations Banker TV TV 5

Art TV

Puls TV

Jumbo TV

Kopernikus

|| NGOs AIESEC BEST LBG Niš Protecta Center for development of education of children AEGEE-Nis Differentia EESTEC LC Niš EUS GNU Klub

Lambda

The Association for Protection and Promotion of Mental Health in Children and Youth Committee for Civic Initiative (OGI)

Newspapers Narodne Novine (BUL) |}

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Niš is twinned with the following cities, according to their City Hall website: {| cellpadding="10" |- valign="top" | Skopje, Macedonia Kassandra, Greece Kursk, Russia || Saltdal, Norway Bad Homburg, Germany Krakow, Poland |}

Other forms of cooperation and city friendship

Vienna, Austria Graz, Austria Barcelona, Spain Columbus, Ohio, USA

References

Notes

External links

City of Niš Official Website

Regional Chamber of Economy Niš Official Website

Category:Populated places in Central Serbia * Category:Roman towns and cities in Serbia Category:Ancient Greek cities Category:Ancient Greek sites in Serbia Category:Nišava District

Name	Toše Proeski Тоше Проески
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Todor Proeski
Alias	Toše
Born	January 25, 1981 in Prilep, Macedonia, (then SFR Yugoslavia)
Died	October 16, 2007Nova Gradiška, Croatia
Instrument	Keyboard, guitar, piano
Genre	Pop, Macedonian Traditional music, Classical music, Rock, Classic metal
Occupation	Singer/songwriter
Years active	1996–2007
Url	www.toseproeski.info

Todor Toše Proeski ( ; January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and further north, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene. Proeski was known for his strong vocal performances and trademark quote "Ve sakam site" (I Love You All), and was once dubbed "Elvis Presley of the Balkans" by BBC News. He died in a car crash in Croatia on October 16, 2007.

Biography

Early years

Proeski, was born in Prilep,SFR Yugoslavia (today Macedonia), to Dominika and Nikola Proeski from Kruševo, his hometown, This was his first public music performance; however, his successful career began in 1996 when he participated in the teenage music festival Melfest in Prilep.

Following this public exposure, he was awarded for his strong vocal capabilities. This led to his rise to fame when he participated in the music festival Makfest in Štip with the song "Pusti Me" ("Let Me Go") in 1997. His fanbase quickly grew and he continued to make use of festivals, such as SkopjeFest and OhridFest, as a platform for promotion and publicity. Proeski collaborated with one of Macedonia’s acclaimed lyricists and composers, Grigor Koprov, to produce some of the greatest hits of his career such as "Usni na Usni" ("Lips over Lips") and "Sonce vo Tvoite Rusi Kosi" ("Sun in Your Golden Hair"). In 1999, he released his debut album, Nekade vo Nokta (Somewhere in the Night), which contained eleven tracks. In the summer of the same year, Proeski performed his first solo concert in Skopje.

In 2000, Proeski participated in the Eurovision pre-selection for Macedonia in SkopjeFest. He sang "Solzi Pravat Zlaten Prsten" ("Tears Make a Golden Ring"), which won the televoting from the public but he finished third overall, behind Karolina Gočeva and the winners XXL. During that period, he began recording the tracks for his second album, Sinot Božji (The Son of God), which was promoted by the end of June 2000. The album brought some great hits, like "Nemir" ("Restless") (a duet with Karolina Gočeva), "Vo Kosi da ti Spijam" ("Sleeping in Your Hair"), "Izlaži me Ušte Ednaš" ("Lie to Me One More Time"), as well as "Iluzija" ("Illusion") (Grand Prix at the festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk) and "Tajno Moja" ("Secret of Mine"). Two songs are composed by Kire Kostov (winning second prize at the festival Sunčane Skale, held in Herceg Novi, now Montenegro).

The Serbian production house BK Sound purchased the rights to release Proeski's latest album in the other former Yugoslav republics, which led to his victory of the Oscar of Popularity in those former republics for the year of 2000, and his sell-out shows in Skopje and Belgrade. Proeski embarked on an Australian tour along with other Macedonian singers in 2001.

Superstardom

After spending his time in recording studios in Athens, Greece, Proeski released his third album "Ako me Pogledneš vo Oči" ("If You Look Into My Eyes") on October 2002 in Macedonian and Serbian. After the release, Proeski went on a tour throughout Macedonia doing intense promotion. He also went to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria for further promotion. Proeski won Beovizija in Belgrade on April 2003, with "Čija Si" ("To Whom Do You Belong?"), a song which became a huge hit in Macedonia and the other former republics. This song was due to represent Serbia and Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 but the EBU stated that too many countries wanted to enter in that year and so some would be forced to withdraw. Serbia and Montenegro (who participated as one country at the time) were one of them.

To improve his singing, Proeski took classes in New York from maestro William Riley, who was also coach to famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. When he returned, Proeski held humanitarian concerts throughout the Macedonia. He was awarded with the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award and in 2003 he became a Regional UNICEF Ambassador. held in Istanbul, Turkey.]] In 2004, MKTV chose Proeski to represent Macedonia at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, Turkey, and in February, he performed eight songs, where a jury, televoting, and his own opinion chose the song. The song "Angel Si Ti" ("You’re an Angel") was chosen by all three. In April, Proeski released his album "Den Za Nas" ("A Day For Us"), which featured the eight songs from the Eurovision selection in Macedonian.

In May, Proeski finished 14th with the song "Life", which was the English version of "Angel Si Ti”. Prior to the contest he was popularised by reporters due to his tremendous opera singing ability, at his press conferences.

All eight songs were recorded in English, but only the winning song of the national final "Life" was released. During the TV national final show, after each song was performed, a clip of the song was played in English to show viewers how it would sound if that song won the contest and was performed in English at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 final.

In 2004 Proeski was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and recorded the song "This World" which became the UNICEF anthem. Proeski signed a contract with Dallas Records so his next album could be released in Croatia and Slovenia. To establish himself in these countries, Proeski recorded "Krajnje Vreme” with Slovenian singer, Anja Rupel. In 2005, Toše’s fifth album Po Tebe (After You) was released throughout ex-Yugoslavia. Po Tebe, is one of the most successful Balkan albums ever. It topped music charts for months in the Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Božilak (Rainbow), was a compilation of 14 selected traditional Macedonian songs arranged by Sasa Nikolovski Gjumar, Ilija Pejovski and Soni Petrovski. The artist was backed up by a symphony orchestra on the album.

His last album Igri Bez Granici (Macedonian title)/'Igra Bez Granica' (Croatian title) ("Game Without Borders") was released all over ex-Yugoslavia in August, 2007.

Apart from songs in Macedonian, Croatian, Serbian, he also recorded one song in Slovene, "Moja" ("Mine") in 2007, and one in Italian, "Aria" ("Air"), with Italian superstar, Gianna Nannini. List of artist who collaborated with Proeski include Anja Rupel, Antonija Šola, Bora Čorba, Karolina Gočeva, Esma Redžepova, Gianna Nannini, Goca Tržan, Grigor Koprov, Jeff Beck, Tony Cetinski, Željko Joksimović and other notable musicians. Prior to his death, he was a student in his final year in the solo singing department of the Skopje Music Academy.

Songwriting

Proeski also established himself as a songwriter. He wrote several hits for himself including "Ima Li Den Za Nas" ("Is There A Day For Us"), "Slusaš Li" ("Are You Listening"), "Malečka" ("Little One") and "Polsko Cveḱe" ("Field Flower"). In 2004, Proeski composed "Muza" ("Muse") for Martin Vučić, the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest representative for Macedonia. It became the title track for the young artist's second album. In interviews, Proeski stated that he had written over 100 songs but was waiting for the right moments to record them as they were still in demo form.

On October 15, Proeski gave his final interview to the Macedonian Television Station Kanal 5. He talked about his intention to finish his Musical Academy studies, his search for his soul mate, and his new album in the works.

Tose's last concert was held on October 5, 2007 for the Primary Education Project for USAID. The concert raised tens of thousands of euros for the primary schools of Macedonia. The concert was attended by over 35,000 people and viewed all over the world.

Death

During the early morning of October 16, 2007, at 6:20 a.m., Proeski died in a car accident on the Zagreb–Lipovac highway near Nova Gradiška, Croatia. He was a passenger along with his manager Ljiljana Petrović in a Volkswagen Touareg driven by Georgij Georgijevski. The Touareg crashed into the back of a truck and then into the median barrier, killing Proeski instantly, crushing the third vertebrae of the neck, although the truck sustained no damage. Proeski was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash. October 17 was pronounced a national day of mourning in Macedonia.

After his death, the government of the Republic of Macedonia, gave him the title "Honorable citizen of Macedonia"

State funeral

The government organized an official state funeral for Proeski, which was held October 17, 2007 in his home town of Kruševo, including military honour ceremonies by the Honor Guard Unit of the Macedonian army, such as a honor guard, a military orchestra and a honorary rifle salute. The funeral, which was broadcast by the national Macedonian TV was attended by many domestic and foreign delegations, including the President Branko Crvenkovski, the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, members of the Macedonian Parliament and its President Ljubiša Georgievski and other high-ranking officials, the US and the EU Ambassadors Gillian Milovanovic and Erwan Fouéré and other diplomats, representatives of the Red Cross, the USAID and other organizations, sport clubs etc. Also, the funeral was attended by many notable musicians from Macedonia and other countries, including: Karolina Gočeva, Kaliopi, Vlado Janevski, Lambe Alabakoski, Elena Risteska, Jovan Jovanov, Martin Vučić, Adrian Gaxha, Tijana Dapčević and her sister Tamara Todevska, Aki Rahimovski (the frontman of Parni valjak), Toni Cetinski, Ceca Ražnatović, Željko Joksimović and many others. The religious service was held by the Macedonian Orthodox Church led by the Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid, as Proeski was a declared Orthodox Christian.

Numerous websites, blogs and internet forums are filled with the last messages from his fans and friends (example). A petition is available on-line for Toše Proeski to be remembered by naming educational facilities, like the local Center for Music Education in Bitola, where he had studied to carry his name. Also this petition is to promote an annual humanitarian concert, carrying his name "Toše Proeski" for the poor and disabled and those of desperate need of medical attention. Also, a page for condolences can be found at the Kruševo municipality official website.

An online petition was held for a tribute to be paid to Toše Proeski at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. It gathered over 13,900 signings however it was not honoured. Tamara Todevska, singer of the Macedonian Eurovision entry of this year said that their entry was dedicated to a few people including their "angel who is up there watching over us".

Tribute concerts

On the 5th October 2008, the anniversary of Proeski's last concert before his death a tribute concert was held in Skopje. Over twenty singers from various Balkan countries performed.

A documentary about the work of Toše Proeski was released on February 12, 2009 in cinemas all over former Yugoslavia.

Another concert was held on January 24, 2010, a day before Toše's birthday.

Gallery

Immediately after Toše Proeski's death was announced, the citizens of Skopje and people from all around Macedonia, as well as foreigners, started to gather at the Macedonia Square bringing candles, flowers and messages of condolence in his memory. Also many institutions such as schools, universities, sport clubs and business companies joined the spontaneous commemorative campaign. Similar gatherings took place in many other cities around the country, but also around the Balkans, especially in the former Yugoslav countries and the diaspora. A mourning ceremony was organized in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina near Skenderija, where around 2000 people gathered to light candles in memory of Toše Proeski.

Discography

Albums

Nekade Vo Nokta(Macedonian language) (1999)

Sinot Božji (Macedonian language)(2000)

Ako Me Pogledneš Vo Oči (Macedonian language version) /Ako Me Pogledaš U Oči (Serbian language version) (2002)

Den Za Nas (Macedonian language version) /Dan Za Nas (Serbian language version) (2004)

Po tebe (Macedonian language version)/Pratim Te (Serbian language version) (2005)

Božilak (Traditional Macedonian folk songs) (2006)

Igri bez granici (Macedonian language version) /Igra Bez Granica (Croatian language version) (2007)

The Hardest Thing (2009) [post mortem] (English version)

Tose i prijatelji (album) (2010) [post mortem] [Balkan language version]

Filmography

2006 Zabranjena Ljubav one episode #1.402 Mladic Bosko

2004 Kako Ubiv Svetec Tose

2007 Nad Lipom 35 one episode #2.2 Himself

Singles chart positions

The song "Čija si" (English: "To Whom Do You Belong") is considered to be Toše's greatest hit. "Čija si" received huge chart success and radio airplay bringing Proeski from star to music icon. His chart toppers include:

:An em dash (—) indicates that the single did not chart.

See also

Music of Macedonia

References

External links

Official Website

Obituary from The Times

Memory-of.com memorial site

Recording of the burial ceremony of Tose, Macedonian Radio Television

Category:1981 births Category:2007 deaths Category:People from Prilep Category:Macedonian Orthodox Christians Category:Aromanian people Category:Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2004 Category:Macedonian male singers Category:Macedonian pop singers Category:Road accident deaths in Croatia

Name	Nico
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Christa Päffgen
Origin	Cologne, Germany
Born	October 16, 1938
Died	July 18, 1988Ibiza, Spain
Genre	Protopunk, avant-garde, experimental, folk rock
Occupation	Composer, singer, fashion model, actress
Years active	1963–1988
Instrument	Vocals, harmonium, harpsichord, piano, tambourine
Voice type	Contralto
Associated acts	The Velvet Underground, John Cale, Lou Reed, Brian Jones, Kevin Ayers, John Cooper Clarke, The Invisible Girls, Blue Orchids, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno

Nico (born Christa Päffgen, 16 October 1938 – 18 July 1988) who was photographing her on a modeling job. He named her this after his ex-boyfriend, filmmaker Nikos Papatakis. She soon moved to Paris and began working for Vogue, Tempo, Vie Nuove, Mascotte Spettacolo, Camera, Elle, and other fashion magazines. She was briefly hired by Coco Chanel. In addition to her native German, she spoke four languages: English, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Before breakthrough

After appearing in several television advertisements, Nico got a small role in Alberto Lattuada's film La Tempesta (1958). She also appeared in Rudolph Maté's For the First Time, with Mario Lanza, later that year.

In 1959 she was invited to the set of Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, where she attracted the attention of the acclaimed director, who gave her a minor role in the film as herself. By this time, she had moved to New York to take acting classes with Lee Strasberg. 's La Dolce Vita.]] She appears as the cover model on jazz pianist Bill Evans' 1962 album, Moon Beams. After splitting her time between New York and Paris, she got the lead role in Jacques Poitrenaud's Strip-Tease (1963). She recorded the title track, which was written by Serge Gainsbourg but not released until 2001, when it was included in the compilation Le Cinéma de Serge Gainsbourg.

In 1962 Nico gave birth to her son, Christian Aaron "Ari" Päffgen, commonly held to have been fathered by French actor Alain Delon. Delon always denied his paternity. The child was raised mostly by Delon's mother and her husband and eventually was adopted by them, taking their surname, Boulogne.

Beginning of musical career

In 1965 Nico met Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and recorded her first single, "I'm Not Sayin'"/"The Last Mile", produced by Jimmy Page for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label. Actor Ben Carruthers introduced her to Bob Dylan in Paris that summer. Dylan wrote the song "I'll Keep It with Mine" for her shortly thereafter, which she recorded for her first album, Chelsea Girl, in 1967. The group became the centerpiece of Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable, a multimedia performance featuring music, light, film and dance. Nico sang lead vocals on three songs ("Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties", and "I'll Be Your Mirror") and backing vocals on another ("Sunday Morning") on the band's debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967).

Solo career

1960s

Immediately following her musical work with The Velvet Underground, Nico began work as a solo artist. For her debut album, 1967's Chelsea Girl, she recorded songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin and Jackson Browne, among others. Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison contributed to the album, with Nico, Reed and Cale co-writing one song, "It Was a Pleasure Then." Chelsea Girl is a traditional chamber-folk album, which influenced artists such as Leonard Cohen, with strings and flute arrangements by producer Tom Wilson. Nico was not satisfied with the album and had little say in production matters.

For The Marble Index, released in 1969, Nico wrote the lyrics and music. Accompaniment mainly centered around Nico's harmonium while John Cale added an array of folk and classical instruments, and produced the album. The harmonium became her signature instrument for the rest of her career. The album combines classical music with a European folk.

1970s

Nico released two more solo albums in the 1970s, Desertshore and The End. Nico wrote the music, sang, and played the harmonium. Cale produced and played most of the other instruments on both albums. The End featured Brian Eno on synthesizer. She appeared at the Rainbow Theatre, in London, with Cale, Eno, and Ayers. The album 1 June 1974 was the result of this concert. Nico performed a version of the Doors' "The End" at this concert, which was the catalyst for The End later that year.

On 13 December 1974, Nico opened for Tangerine Dream's infamous concert at Reims Cathedral in Reims, France. The promoter had so greatly oversold tickets for the show that members of the audience couldn't move or reach the outside, eventually resulting in some fans urinating inside the cathedral hall. The Roman Catholic Church denounced these actions, ordered the rededication of the cathedral and banned future performances on church property.

Nico and Island Records allegedly had many disputes during this time, and in 1975 the label dropped her from their roster.

1980s

Nico returned to New York in late 1979 where her comeback concert at CBGB in early 1980 was glowingly reviewed in The New York Times. She began playing regularly at the Mudd Club and other venues with Jim Tisdall accompanying her on harp and Gittler guitar. They played together on a sold-out tour of twelve cities in the East and Midwest.

Nico recorded her next studio album, Drama of Exile, in 1981. She was also said to have been a vegetarian, as well as a self-proclaimed nihilist.

Death

On 18 July 1988, while on holiday with her son in Ibiza, Spain, Nico had a minor heart attack while riding a bicycle and hit her head as she fell. A passing taxi driver found her unconscious and had difficulty getting her admitted to local hospitals. She was incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from heat-exposure and died at eight o'clock that evening. X-rays later revealed a severe cerebral hemorrhage as the cause of death.

Nico was buried in her mother's plot in Grunewald Forest Cemetery in Berlin, Germany. A few friends played a tape of "Mütterlein", a song from Desertshore, at her funeral.

Legacy

Nico has influenced many musicians, including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Morrissey, Björk, Coil, Jocelyn Pook, Fabienne Shine (who covered "All Tomorrow's Parties"), Dead Can Dance as well as numerous contemporary goth bands.

Late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith cited her as a major inspiration and was said to have listened to The Marble Index for months. Smith performed covers of some of her songs - most notably "Chelsea Girls" and "These Days", both of which he performed live at Satyricon in Portland, Oregon in October 1999.

Two of her songs from Chelsea Girl, "The Fairest of the Seasons" and "These Days", both written by Jackson Browne, are featured in Wes Anderson's film The Royal Tenenbaums.

Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon named his daughter 'Nico Blue' partly after Nico. Blind Melon's album Nico was released after Hoon's death.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a movie written by John Cameron Mitchell, mentions Nico as an influential artist in its song, "Midnight Radio". The song is written by Stephen Trask.

The Cult recorded the song "Nico", which celebrates the life of the singer, on their 2001 album Beyond Good And Evil.

For her 2002 album, Kissin' Time, Marianne Faithfull recorded "A Song for Nico", cowritten with Dave Stewart.

Nico was portrayed by Christina Fulton in the 1991 biopic The Doors. She was later portrayed by Meredith Ostrom in the 2006 film, Factory Girl, which chronicles the life of fellow "Warhol Superstar", Edie Sedgwick.

Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes) has quoted Nico as an influence in particular Desertshore (The opening song her her first albumFur and Gold, uses the name of the album in its lyrics). During 2007 she would start concerts with "Le Petit Chevalier" from that record.

Singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf has been influenced by Nico, and released cover versions of "Afraid" and "Ari's Song" as b-sides on EPs.

Rock band Anberlin named one of their songs after her: "Dance, Dance Christa Päffgen" on their album "Never Take Friendship Personal". The song also makes reference to her death, and her drug use.

Austin based band Shearwater dedicated their album Palo Santo to the memory of Nico. The opening song ("La Dame Et La Licorne") depicts Nico's death at Ibiza, Spain.

Windsor for the Derby, another Austin based band, released an instrumental track in 2000 on their Young God Release "Difference and Repetition." A live version of the song can be found on a limited edition 7-inch.

Low, an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, has a song titled "Those Girls (Song For Nico)". It is included on the box set , released in 2004.

Two Nico tribute concerts took place in Europe in the autumn of 2008 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Nico's birth and the 20th anniversary of her death. On 11 October 2008, John Cale, James Dean Bradfield (of the Manic Street Preachers), Fyfe Dangerfield of the Guillemots and others appeared on stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London. On 17 October 2008 at the Volksbuehne in Berlin, Nico's ex-boyfriend Lutz Ulbrich presented another tribute concert, which featured Marianne Rosenberg, Soap & Skin, Marianne Enzensberger and James Young, the keyboardist from The Faction, Nico's last band. Nico's son, Ari Boulogne (sometimes called Ari Päffgen), made a brief appearance on stage at the close.

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title |- |1967 |The Velvet Underground & Nico |- |1967 |Chelsea Girl |- |1969 |The Marble Index |- |1970 |Desertshore |- |1974 |The End |- |1981 |Drama of Exile (released in two versions) |- |1985 |Camera Obscura |- |}

Bibliography

Nico: The Life and Lies of an Icon by Richard Witts, (Virgin Books: London, 1992).

Up-tight: the Velvet Underground Story by Victor Bockris and Gerard Malanga (Omnibus Press: London, 1995 reprint).

Songs They Never Play On the Radio by James Young, (Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd: London, 1992).

Nico: Photographies by Antoine Giacomoni, (Dragoon: Paris, 2002).

Nico: Cible mouvante. Chansons, Poèmes, Journal by Nico, Jacques Pauvert and Ari Boulogne, (Pauvert: Paris, 2001).

L'amour n'oublie jamais by Ari Boulogne, (Pauvert: Paris, 2001).

Nico: The End by James Young, 1993.

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gilliamn Mccain, (Grove Press: New York, 1996).

LÜÜL: Ein Musikerleben zwischen Agitation Free, Ashra, Nico, der Neuen Deutschen Welle und den 17 Hippies by Lutz Ulbrich (Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf: Berlin, 2007).

Films and plays

Nico Icon (1995), documentary directed by Susanne Ofteringer

Nico Icon Play by Stella Grundy premièred at Studio Salford on 5 September 2007

Nico. Sphinx aus Eis by Werner Fritsch (2005)

References

External links

Nico Fan Group A public social networking group for Nico fans

Habits of Waste, Pt. 1 Evaluation of Nico's early work

Habits of Waste, Pt. 2 Evaluation of Nico's later work

Nico, the Voice of Disaffected Youth - Audio story from National Public Radio

Nico (BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour audio item)

Femme Fatale: Story of Nico BBC Radio 4 14 September 2009

Category:1938 births Category:1988 deaths Category:Contraltos Category:Female rock singers Category:German female singers Category:German rock singers Category:German film actors Category:German female models Category:German vegetarians Category:The Velvet Underground Category:Warhol Superstars Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute alumni Category:Dark cabaret musicians Category:Cycling road accident victims Category:Reachout International Records recording artists Category:Protopunk musicians Category:Harmonium players Category:Elektra Records artists